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Sega Mega Drive Under Siege: SACRED LINE 1 & 2

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Horror Games Invade The Sega Mega Drive / Genesis

Get your Sega Mega Drive / Genesis consoles out, cause Mega Cat Studios and Sasha Darko have released Sacred Line I & II for Sega’s 16-Bit wonder!

These surreal and horrifying choose-your-own-adventure titles for Sega’s 16-Bit beast feature haunting and treacherous locales to explore, brought to life with gorgeous yet unsettling 3D-rendered visuals, clever puzzles to solve, and deep stories centered around mature themes like war crimes, religious cults, and much, much more!

What are you waiting for, go and get horrified on your Sega Mega Drive / Genesis!!

Details:

  • Titles: Sacred Line 1 & Sacred Line 2
  • Price: US$39.99 (cart only) / US$49.99 (complete in box + manual) each
  • Availability: right now at Mega Cat Studios

 

image source: Mega Cat Studios

 

Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition

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Nintendo brings home White Knuckle Speedrun Competition with Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition

How quickly could you collect a roomful of coins in Super Mario Bros.? Or snag the sword at the start of The Legend of Zelda? Or clear the entire first course in Super Mario Bros. 3? Could you do it faster than your friends? OK — can you do it faster than the rest of the world? It’s time to find out.

On 18th July, Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition kicks off its worldwide competition on Nintendo Switch in living rooms across the globe. To get a taste of exactly what the game has in store, and to rev up the nostalgia, take a crash course in all things Nintendo World Championships with the announcement trailer below.

Paying tribute to the unforgettable in-person Nintendo World Championships held in 1990, 2015 and 2017, Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition challenges players to battle through byte-sized bits of classic blockbusters. Both old-school and new-school players can enjoy the rush of over 150 speedrun challenges taken from 13 classic NES games. Warm up by setting and beating your own best times in the single-player Speedrun Mode, unlocking new challenges and unique in-game pins along the way, then, up to eight players* can compete locally in Party Mode. Nintendo Switch Online members** can also enter World Championships Mode to submit their best times in five challenges that rotate each week and compete for a spot on the global leaderboard.

Test your mettle against speedrun challenges taken from these NES titles:

  • Balloon Fight
  • Donkey Kong
  • Excitebike
  • Ice Climber
  • Kid Icarus
  • Kirby’s Adventure
  • Metroid
  • Super Mario Bros.
  • Super Mario Bros. 2
  • Super Mario Bros. 3
  • Super Mario Bros. The Lost Levels
  • The Legend of Zelda
  • Zelda II: The Adventure of Link

And for those whose NES roots run deep, prepare for the Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition – Deluxe Set, also available on 18th July exclusively via EB Games Australia and New Zealand. This special-edition bundle includes a physical version of the game, a set of 5 collectible pins, 13 art cards commemorating each of the featured NES classics, and a replica of the fabled gold-coloured NES Game Pak (for display only, stand included) to commemorate the original 1990 Nintendo World Championships event.

The Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition will be available for pre-purchase shortly on My Nintendo Store and at select retailers.

 

Comedy Central Announces Golden Axe Animated Series

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In an exciting development for fans of animated entertainment and old school video games, Comedy Central has unveiled plans for a brand-new animated series based on Sega’s 1989 seminal side-scrolling beat’em up / hack’n slash video game, Golden Axe. Set to captivate audiences with its unique blend of humor and adventure, the announcement has already sparked widespread anticipation among viewers eager to witness the comedic prowess of the show’s talented cast and crew.

Led by the Emmy-winning actor Matthew Rhys, known for his remarkable performances in “The Americans” and “Perry Mason,” alongside the beloved actor Danny Pudi, recognised for his role in the hit series “Community,” Golden Axe promises to deliver a fresh and entertaining experience for audiences of all ages.

Just like the video game, Golden Axe is set in the medieval fantasy world, Yuria, filled with magic, mythical creatures, and epic quests, with the animated series following the exploits of Ax Battler, Tyris Flare and Gilius Thunderhead, a group of unlikely heroes as they embark on an adventure battling the evil giant Death Adder and his minions. With Rhys and Pudi at the helm, viewers can expect a delightful blend of wit, charm, and comedic timing as the characters navigate the perils of their quest with hilarity and heart.

Speaking about his involvement in the project, Matthew Rhys expressed his excitement, stating,

“I am thrilled to be part of such a fun and imaginative series. Golden Axe is a truly unique and exciting project, and I can’t wait for audiences to join us on this epic journey.”

Equally enthusiastic about the upcoming series, Danny Pudi shared,

“As a longtime fan of animation, I am honored to be working alongside such a talented team to bring ‘Golden Axe’ to life. The world we are creating is full of humor, adventure, and heart, and I can’t wait for viewers to experience it.”

With Comedy Central’s reputation for delivering groundbreaking comedy and innovative storytelling, Golden Axe is poised to become a standout addition to the network’s lineup. As viewers eagerly await its premiere, the animated series is already generating buzz and anticipation, promising an unforgettable adventure filled with laughter, excitement, and plenty of golden moments.

‘The Epyx Collection: Handheld’ Brings 6 Classic Lynx Games to Nintendo Switch

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Six Classic Lynx Games Arrive on Nintendo Switch this April in ‘The Epyx Collection Handheld’

Releasing April 25th 2024.

Pixel Games UK is pleased to announce ‘The Epyx Collection Handheld’ — a collection of six classic Atari Lynx games coming to Nintendo Switch™ on April 25th. The collection includes fond favourites ‘California Games’, ‘ElectroCop’, ‘Blue Lightning’, ‘Gates of Zendocon’, ‘Todd’s Adventures in Slime World’, and ‘Zarlor Mercenary’.

Developed by Imagine Software, these six retro classics are packed with late 80s / early 90s nostalgia and are just as fun and challenging to play today as they were when they were first released — each of them available on Nintendo Switch for the first time.

‘California Games’ (1989)

Experience the laid-back vibe of the West Coast through a series of extreme sports challenges including surfing, skateboarding, BMX biking, roller skating, flying disc (frisbee), and footbag (hacky sack). With its vibrant graphics and dynamic gameplay, ‘California Games’ captures the essence of the 1980s beach culture, offering a fun and nostalgic trip to the sunny shores of California.

‘ElectroCop’ (1989)

Control a cybernetic police officer, step into the world of futuristic law enforcement, and restore order to a crime-ridden city. Armed with advanced weaponry and gadgets, players must navigate through hazardous environments, battle against ruthless criminals, and ultimately confront the nefarious mastermind behind all the chaos. With its combination of action-packed gameplay and sci-fi atmosphere, ‘ElectroCop’ delivers an adrenaline-fueled journey through a dystopian urban landscape.

‘Blue Lightning’ (1989)

‘Blue Lightning’ thrusts players into the cockpit of an advanced fighter jet as they engage in high-stakes aerial combat across a variety of landscapes. With fast-paced gameplay and a standout graphical style, players must navigate through enemy territory, dodge incoming fire, and unleash devastating firepower upon enemy targets. As they progress through increasingly challenging missions, players must showcase their piloting skills and strategic prowess to emerge victorious in this adrenaline-pumping arcade flight experience.

‘Gates of Zendocon’ (1989)

Embark on an intergalactic journey through perilous alien worlds and face off against a horde of deadly adversaries controlled by the sinister Zendocon. Armed with an array of powerful weapons and upgrades, players must navigate through treacherous terrain, blast through waves of hostile creatures, and ultimately confront the formidable bosses guarding the gates to the heart of the Zendocon empire. With its engaging gameplay and sci-fi atmosphere, ‘Gates of the Zendocon’ delivers an epic space-faring adventure that will test players’ skills and courage.

‘Todd’s Adventures in Slime World’ (1990)

In ‘Todd’s Adventures in Slime World,’ players take on the role of Todd, an intrepid explorer navigating through the hazardous depths of Slime World, a sprawling and treacherous alien landscape filled with deadly traps and monstrous creatures. Equipped with an assortment of weapons and gadgets, Todd must traverse through slime-infested caverns, solve puzzles, and fend off hostile slime creatures to uncover the secrets of this mysterious world. With its challenging gameplay and quirky charm, ‘Todd’s Adventures in Slime World’ is a unique platforming adventure that will put players’ skills and wits to the test.

‘Zarlor Mercenary’ (1990)

Step into the boots of a skilled intergalactic mercenary tasked with defending the galaxy from the relentless onslaught of alien invaders. With a powerful arsenal of weapons and piloting a customisable spacecraft, players must navigate through waves of enemy ships, asteroids, and other hazards across various planetary environments. With its fast-paced action, strategic gameplay, and intense boss battles, ‘Zarlor Mercenary’ is an exhilarating arcade-style shooter that will challenge players to prove their worth as the galaxy’s ultimate protector.


source: Imagine Software

‘The Epyx Collection Handheld’ for Nintendo Switch allows players to experience these classic games once again, or dive into them for the first time. ‘The Epyx Collection Handheld’ adds:

  • Display Filters — including an 80s-style CRT filter
  • Suspend Points – save and restore up to 4 suspend points per game
  • Live Rewind – rewind up to 5 seconds of live gameplay with the push of a button

‘The Epyx Collection Handheld’ also features an improved user interface, featuring interactive, 3D-rendered, box art and cartridges for each game based on the original releases. Plus, fully remastered versions of each game’s instruction manual. These additions come following fan feedback, and a desire to preserve even more of the incredible history of these games.

‘The Epyx Collection Handheld’ is the fourth retro release on Nintendo Switch for Pixel Games UK, having previously published ‘Chip’s Challenge’, ‘The Monty Mole Collection’ and ‘Hidden — a collection of classic games from the Commodore 64.

‘The Epyx Collection Handheld’ will be released worldwide on Nintendo Switch via the Nintendo eShop on April 25th 2024 for £11.99 / $11.99 / €13.99.

Atarian Al Alcorn Inducted In The Amusement Industry Hall of Fame

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Pioneer Al Alcorn Honored with Amusement Industry Hall of Fame Induction

In a momentous tribute to his groundbreaking contributions, the esteemed engineer and computer scientist, Al Alcorn, has been inducted into the Amusement Industry Hall of Fame this year. Alcorn, renowned for his pivotal role in the inception of the iconic game Pong, joins the ranks of esteemed visionaries, including fellow Atarian Nolan Bushnell, a member of the inaugural class.

Alcorn embarked on his illustrious career at Ampex in 1968, where he initially delved into the development of a high-resolution video system. However, it was in 1972 that he embarked on a transformative journey with Bushnell and Ted Dabney at Atari. Together, they spearheaded the creation of Pong, a seminal milestone in the realm of video amusement games, heralding a new era of entertainment.

Reflecting on Alcorn’s indispensable role in shaping the landscape of gaming history, RePlay publisher Eddie Adlum remarked, “If you ask 10 operators today who programmed Pong back in the day, five would say Nolan Bushnell and the other five would say they don’t know. The answer, obviously, is Al Alcorn.” Working under Bushnell’s guidance, Alcorn meticulously engineered the circuitry that birthed the revolutionary machine in 1972, laying the foundation for the burgeoning video game revolution.

[L – R]: Ted Dabney, Nolan Bushnell, Fred Marincic and PONG creator, Allan (Al) Alcorn
In a testament to their innovative spirit, Bushnell and Alcorn experimented with unconventional concepts, such as embedding Pong circuitry into barrels, dubbing it “Barrel Pong.” However, it was the classic upright cabinet iteration that resonated most profoundly with audiences, establishing a paradigmatic standard for all subsequent video uprights.

Al Alcorn’s induction into the Amusement Industry Hall of Fame not only honours his extraordinary legacy but also underscores the enduring impact of his visionary ingenuity on the fabric of modern entertainment. As his pioneering achievements continue to inspire generations of creators and enthusiasts alike, Alcorn’s legacy remains indelibly etched in the annals of gaming history.

story & image source: RePlay Magazine

Atari’s NeoSprint Is Racing Onto PC & Consoles Very Soon!

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NEOSPRINT ZOOMS BACK TO LIFE AS A SINGLE SCREEN ISOMETRIC ARCADE RACER

As huge fans of Atari Games’ Super Sprint and Championship Sprint overhead racers, we are actually quite chuffed to hear that NeoSprint – a sort-of-sequel to the “Sprint” series, is coming to our modern gaming systems sometime this winter (Jun – Aug – Atari hasn’t as yet confirmed the exact date/time)!

According to Atari,

NeoSprint is a single screen arcade racer for up to 8 players on supporting systems. Paired with a robust track builder and intuitive sharing tools, NeoSprint provides a racing experience that will satisfy speed demons and architects alike.


source: Atari

Available on PlayStation 5, Xbox , Nintendo Switch, and Steam, we honestly can’t wait for NeoSprint!

PS: If you have an Atari VCS, then we are officially jelly, as NeoSprint is already available for you to hoon around on!

Enter Your Very Own Arcade Paradise VR

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Wishlist the nostalgia-inducing arcade and light management sim today – this time it’s in VR!

Publisher Wired Productions and award-winning independent developer, Nosebleed Interactive, are thrilled to reveal that Arcade Paradise VR is releasing on 25th April 2024 for Meta Quest 2, 3 and Pro.

It’s almost time to enter the virtual realm in Arcade Paradise VR, transporting you back to 1993 for an all-new immersive experience oozing with retro-fuelled gaming nostalgia! Taking you on an empowering journey from rags to riches, Arcade Paradise is an adventure and light-management sim combo game where you transform the decrepit King Wash laundromat into a thriving business.

Set in the rundown town of Grindstone, you play as Ashley, a rebel teenager going against your father’s wishes to continue the family business. Get hands-on managing the fully gamified day-to-day tasks, from manually picking up gum, doing the laundry, and scrubbing a toilet perfectly clean – to throwing out the trash in a basketball style mini game. Then, take your hard-earned money from completing these tasks to unlock your real objective… buying more arcade units!

Featuring 12 fully realized VR cabinets alongside 27 traditionally controlled games from the original release, it’s time to play, profit and purchase your way to your very own Arcade Paradise. So, strap on your latest virtual reality tech – because the future is NOW!

Features:

  • 12 brand-new fully realized VR arcade cabinets alongside 27, 90’s inspired, traditional controller games from the original release.
  • A wide range of gameplay from laundry mini-games to managing a full arcade with fully playable games cabinets.
  • Set high scores across each game in competitive online leaderboards.
  • Soundtrack composed by former The Prodigy live show member Kieron Pepper in collaboration with Black Razor Records.
  • Coming of age storytelling featuring award winning voice actor Doug Cockle playing your belligerent father, Gerald.
  • Bring the 90’s to the future with Mixed Reality, place cabinets in your living room for a whole new level of immersion.

Arcade Paradise VR launches on April 25th, 2024 on Meta Quest 2, 3 and Pro for US$19.99 / GBP£14.99 / AUD$27.32.

 

Press Release supplied

CAPCOM 40th Anniversary – 11 Retro Games To Play for Free In Your Browser

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Play old school CAPCOM games for free in your browser!

Celebrating it’s 40th Anniversary (since 11th of June 2023), CAPCOM has launched a very special website destination in honour and celebration of this event – CAPCOM TOWN!

Capcom Town offers an interactive museum, a product factory (allowing you to download Capcom-themed icons for X/Twitter!), pages dedicated to C-Suite level Capcom executives telling the story of the company, and most importantly, the Town allows access to retro games that you can play gratis (that means FREE) directly in your browser!

What are you still doing here, go and play some Super Ghouls’n Ghosts or Street Fighter II or Breath Of Fire or Final Fight or…..ahhhh, you get the picture 😉

NOTES:

  • All games are available in their US or Japanese versions
  • You must enable cookies in your browser
  • Saved data can only be played back from where you left off in the same browser
  • ⚠️ If you delete the cookies and offline data from your browser, the stored data will become unusable

image source: CAPCOM TOWN

Freeplay Independent Games Festival

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Freeplay is the world’s longest-running independent games festival, located in Melbourne, Australia.

Established in 2004, Freeplay is one of the world’s longest-running independent games festivals and explores games at the margins – independent, alternative, experimental and hyperlocal.

Freeplay bridges the gulf between the games industry and Australia’s local arts ecosystem – working with small developers, game-making collectives and the innovators and dreamers at the fringe of digital and interactive art to celebrate games as art – not just commercial products.

Freeplay is the first step for many Australian emerging studios into the broader games ecosystem. For twenty years, Freeplay have helped shape now world-renowned studios like Massive Monster (Cult of the Lamb), Witch Beam (Unpacking), League of Geeks (Armello), House House (Untitled Goose Game), 2Pt Interactive (Heavenly Bodies) and Worm Club (Frog Detective).

The critical details:

  • What: Freeplay Independent Games Festival
  • When: Thurs Mar 28 – Sun 14 Apr 2024 10am – 5pm
  • Tickets: FREE (drop in)
  • Where: Fed Square Foyer, Level 1, ACMI, Fed Square (wheelchair access)

image sources: ACMI and Freeplay

2024 Reset64 4KB CRAPTASTIC Game Competition

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Craptastic has been a huge success since the first competition in 2016, and we’re very excited to be doing it all again in 2024! This year’s competition theme is once again…. Craptastic!

“What the bloom’n heck does craptastic mean?”, I hear you ask.

It certainly doesn’t mean crap, although it can! Craptastic can mean ludicrous, bonkers, outrageous, funny, wacky, far out, and silly. The theme simply implies that the compo is just for a bit of fun, not a serious coding competition. You are more than welcome to make an excellent game to submit for the compo. Your game may contain some humour or silliness to fit more with the theme, but it doesn’t have to!

2022 Craptastic Comp Winner: Marble Boy (Roman Werner)

In our previous competitions, some entries were truly excellent, others excellent but silly, others truly awful but funny! It’s just a chance for people to do something a little different if they wish and explore ideas/concepts that wouldn’t normally work well in a more serious compo.

Please remember that this competition is limited to 4KB. Yes, any entry submitted can be no more than 4KB when compressed. If your game is more than 1 file, then all the game files put together must not exceed the 4KB limit. This includes hi-score save files.

We want craptastic game entries. Remember, the key word here is fun. We want both coders and players alike to have fun and enjoy this comp!

Submit your entries to RESET64 (via email: [email protected]) by 31st August, 2024 (23:59:59 GMT).

Take a look at our previous Craptastic compo entries to help draw inspiration!

RULES

Basic rules are as follows:

  • The competition deadline is 23:59:59 GMT on the 31st August, 2024. All entries to be submitted to [email protected] by the deadline or will be deemed ineligible.
  • All entrants must register at [email protected]
  • Entrants are free to preview screenshots and videos of their game(s) to other publications/websites.
  • The competition will only begin when there are at least 5 registered entrants.
  • All submitted games MUST be 4KB or less (when compressed or uncompressed), and executable on a stock C64 on either or each of tape, disk and cartridge. Your submission may have a separate docs file (either as a C64 executable or a txt file, which doesn’t count towards the 4KB cap). However, hi-score saver files will count towards the cap.
  • The games must be previously unreleased and be your own work, whether that be by yourself or as part of a collaboration.
  • PAL must be supported, with additional NTSC support optional (but encouraged).
  • Participants may submit multiple entries, either as an individual or within a team. Team entries must be registered by an individual, and any potential prizes will be sent to the registered individual only.
  • Entries should be submitted exclusively to RESET64 by the competition deadline. Please feel free to share your entry as you wish after the competition has ended (after the compo deadline has passed).
  • There will be a panel of judges (TBA), and entries will be scored on a point distribution basis across several criteria. The decision of the panel is final.
  • Games must be submitted as freeware.
  • Games will be published by Reset64 (not necessarily exclusively) on a future disk compilation for the whole world to enjoy, after the competition has concluded. All entries will be made available on the Reset64 itch.io after the compo concludes.
  • Games must not be released before the competition deadline, or they will become exempt from scoring and will be deemed ineligible. Games can be submitted after deadline but will be counted as *out of competition* and will be ineligible for a placing.

We reserve the right to change, add or delete rules during the competition if deemed necessary!

2nd place in the 2022 Craptastic Comp: Circles by James

SCORING SYSTEM

The scoring system used for Craptastic is very simple. Each game will be scored against 7 criteria, each worth 5 points. An entry can score up to 35 points. When the panel has scored each game accordingly, the totals for each individual game will be divided by the number of judges to produce a mean average. The average will be the game’s final score.

The criteria that each game will be evaluated on are:

Originality – New idea or “rip off”? Off the wall ideas encouraged.
Concept – Quality of game design, is it fun, is it bonkers, is it craptastic?
Execution – Execution of design, taking into account controls and other factors such as excecution.
Presentation – Quality of graphics, audio and overall presentation. Supremely bad can be seen as a positive in some cases!
Gameplay – A measure of how enjoyable the game is to play.
Lasting Appeal – replay value, addictiveness.
OMG factor – when you see it, do you think “wtf!?” This is the true measure of craptasticness!

If a panel member has entered a game themselves, then the number of points that they can award will be adjusted (in this example, to 5) and they will not score their own release.

CSDB will not be used for voting. Also, entries should not be uploaded to CSDB, or elsewhere until after the competition has closed. Feel free to post screenshots or info though.

PRIZES

A craptastic gaming comp requires craptastic prizes, right? We have some fantastic prizes lined up for this year’s compo thanks to some very generous sponsors.

A big thank-you to the following sponsors and supporters:



More sponsors to be announced.

Unkle K / Reset64
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